A federal system, as defined by the literature is one in which more than one level of government exits and power is distributed between these levels in such a way that neither government can unilaterally dissolve the other. Smaller constituent governments are contained within a larger, over-riding, central governments and are usually connected by some form of written constitution. Power can be distributed in a centralized manner where the balance of power is with the national government or in a decentralized model emphasizing regionalism and constituent governments. As of 1996, 23 federations exist globally including the United States (1789), Switzerland (1848), Canada (1867), Australia (1901), Austria (1920), and Germany (1949) as some of the oldest standing examples. Other federal political systems include a variety of distinctions such as constitutionally decentralized unions, confederations, federacies, associated statehoods, leagues and joint functional authorities. For example the United States is a federation of 50 states plus 2 federacies, 3 associated states, 3 local home-rule territories and over 130 Native American domestic dependent nations. At the same time, the U.S. is involved in broader, international leagues guided by a common secretariat, for example the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The American system comes into being originally as a confederation. Finding that unsuitable to meet their needs, the colonies concede more of their powers to enter into a federation, albeit a decentralized one. By consolidating their capital, the United States of America is able to achieve common goals and efficiencies that would not have otherwise been possible. Jurisdictions that are better served with economies of scale are placed under federal administration. National defense is one such example. While no one state would be able to unilaterally safeguard its territory, the combined funding of the United States military has made it the most powerful and formidable force in the world. At the same time as federations are able to procure cost-savings by merging certain dominions at the national level, they are able to yield enough power to constituent governments to entice regions to enter into and remain in the federation. In Canada, concessions are given to vast and varied regions in an effort to resolve local demands. Although the Fathers of Confederation originally designed the Canadian system to invest the preponderance of power in Ottawa, over time authority has devolved to the provinces, resulting in a more decentralized country. Provinces were given control over things that were viewed as being less important in 1867. Issues such as health care, hospitals, schools and private property that were given over to the provinces, have now become the most significant topics in political debate.

Federal systems of government have been used to bring together divers peoples, uniting them towards a common cause despite divisive lines across languages, cultures, and religions. Regions that would not normally be drawn together are combined without the impetus of a dictator or authoritarian rule. Federalism is unique in being "the main alternative to empire as a technique for aggregating larger areas under one government". Such is the case in Canada where the British Upper-Canadians, the French Lower Canadians, and the mixture of Maritimers were impelled to come together in the hopes that their pooled resources would be adequate to extend the railroad and the agricultural frontier across the pre-Cambrian shield and into the fertile prairies

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, Ronald Watts, Pierre Coulombe, Benjamin Barber, Tom Courchene, Fathers Confederation, Constitution United, United America, South America, Africa Sarajevo, federal system, constituent governments, form government, british north american, human rights, larger political, power distributed, system government, fathers confederation, regional sovereignty, world human rights, north american colonies, federal systems,
Approximate Word count = 2417
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)